Brush cutter



Jan. 26, 1943. w. w. ETQZ'RRING BRUSH CUTTER Filed May 1, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR g wfred W 5/0/7279 Jan. 26, 1943. w. w. sums BRUSH CUTTER Filed May 1, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 1343. w. w. STARING 2,309,223

BRUSH CUTTER Filed May 1, 194.0 a Sheets-Shee st 5 W v v 4 Patented Jan. 26, '1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRUSH CUTTER ,Wilfred W. Staring, Oakland, Calif. Application May 1, 1940, Serial No. 332,758

'1 Claims. (01. 37-2) The invention relates to power driven devices adapted to penetrate through relatively heavy growths of brush and small trees for clearing out a roadway or other passageway through the brush.

An object of the present invention is to provide a brush cutter of the character described which will be more eiiicient and effective in the cutting of heavy growths of brush and trees, and which in addition will provide for the stacking of the brush substantially entirely free from earth, and which may be used for felling small and medium sized trees.

Another object of the invention is to provide a brush cutter of the character above which will leave the ground substantially entirely free from brush and in its natural state, without requiring excavation of earth to remove the brush.

A further object of the invention is to. provide a brush cutter of the character above which is particularly adapted for use with a bull-dozer and which utilizes the bull-dozer as a rear guard for stacking and piling of the brush, and which may be readily attached and detached from the bull-dozer, and when attached the device may be moved to an inoperative position on the bulldozer, allowing the latter to perform its usual excavating function.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the aid drawings and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure lis a side elevation of a brush cutter constructed in accordance with the present invention and shown operatively associated with a bull-dozer and tractor unit.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the brush cutter.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the brush cutter.

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the brush cutter.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the brush cutter taken substantially on the plane of line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the cutter blade of thebrush cutter.

Figure 7 is a'plan view of a modified form of the brush cutter.

Figure 8 is a front elevation of the brush cutter illustrated in Figure '7. t

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view of the brush cutter illustrated in Figures 7 and 8.

The brush cutter of the present invention consists briefly of the combination of a plate adapted to be mounted across the front end of a tractor or other motor driven vehicle and a cutter member which is pivotally secured to the plate in a manner causing a portion of the member to engage and in some instances penetrate into the ground and which is relatively free to move vertically so as to free itself from brush cut and accumulated on the member. In the preferred form of the invention the cutter mem ber is of such shape and design that the entire cutter member may be disposed below the ground elevation so as to shear off a stratum of earth and brush and roots contained therein. As another feature of the invention the supporting means is of relatively open construction so as to permit a sifting and gravitation of earth through the brush, whereby the earth is left substantially in natural condition without requiring any appreciable excavation of the ground.

In the accompanying drawings, and as one of the important features of the present invention, the brush cutter is operatively associated with a bull-dozer plate in such a manner that the plate affords-a support for the cutter member per se, and at the same time acts as a rear guard against which the severed brush may be stacked and pushed. The preferred form of the invention is illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings, wherein the brush cutter is shown, see Figure 1, in operative association with a tractor ll of mor or less standard construction. Carried on side longitudinal rails I2 of the tractor are rearwardly projecting arms l3 of a bull-dozer H which in the present instance comprises a plate Hi and a supporting frame i1 therefor, which is secured on the forward ends of arms l3. A cutting blade I8 is mounted across the lower edge of the plate It in the usual manner. The bulldozer may be raised and lowered about a pivotal connection l9 located at the rear of arms I3 and rails l2 and in accordance with the construction here shown, such elevating is effected by means of a hydraulic mechanism 2| including a ram arm 22 connected toone end of lever 23 which i in turn connected to a link 24 pivoted to the bulldozer frame. Also preferably, side plates 26 are arranged on the opposite sides of the tractor for guiding roller members 2'! carried by the arms l3 upon vertical movement of the arms.

t it frees itself entirely from the brush mass.

The brush cutter member per se in the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 or the invention consists of a flat elongated platelike member 28 which is positioned forwardly of the bull-dozer plate I6 at substantially ground elevation and which is adapted to lie substantially flat on the ground and is supported from the plate I6 by supporting means including a plurality of arms 29, 3|, 32, 33 and 34. Preferably the member 28 is of V-shape construction including a pair of sides 36 and3l which taper forwardly and centrally of the device and which join at the center so as to locate the apex of the V at the front center of the device. With reference to Figure 2 the sides 36 and 31 preferably are arincludes a pair of ear members 42 which are mounted on the face of the plate IS on the opposite vertical sides of the upper ends of arms 29- 34 and which are secured to the arms by means of pivot pins 43. The pivotal connections of the arms are thus effected about a horizontal axis parallel to the face of the backing plate I6 and the pivotal connection of each of the arms is aligned with the pivotal connection of the other arms. A reenforcing member 44 is connected to each of the arms 2934 and extends across the 'widthwise dimension of the cutter member adjacent the lower edge of the backing plate 16, see

ranged at an angle to a horizontal transverse axis, that is one at right angles to the line of movement, of about 16. Secured on the forward edge of the sides 36 and 31 are cutter blades 38 and 39 which present a flat sharpened edge forwardly of the cutter and which edge is preferably serrated or notched as illustrated in Figure 6, so as to provide a most effective cutting of brush and the like. The. blades 38 and 39 may be secured in any suitable manner to the backing plates 36 and 31 such as by means of a series of bolts 4| here illustrated.

As an important feature of the cutter member 28, the entire member is relatively flat and thin in vertical dimension whereby the same can be set below ground elevation and pressed forwardly through the ground so as to shear a top layer of earth and any brush which is contained in the earth. This top layer of earth may slide directly over the top of the cutter member without being raised or otherwise excavated and in this manner the earth is left in its natural state. The brush which is. severed by the member is picked up by the arms 2934, and by the bull-dozer plate l6 and is carried forward with the tractor. Of particular importance is the fact that the supporting means, including the arms 2934 i of open construction, whereby any earth which is elevated with the brush will sift and gravitate through the supporting means and redeposit on the ground. The brush thus accumulated is substantially entirely fre from earth deposit.

As an important feature of the present invention the cutter member 28 is not rigidly secured to the backing plate I6 but rather is given a certain freedom of movement whereby the lever may free itself from brush entanglement. I provide for this desirable function by pivotally supporting the rear ends of the arms 2934 to the backing plate whereby the cutter member 28 is permitted a relatively free vertical movement. In operation of the device I have found that a very effective technique may be used for clearing heavy undergrowth which consists in moving forwardly through the brush until a substantial pile of brush has been accumulated and compacted against the backing plate and then turning sidewise out of the path being cleared for a short distance and then backing into the cleared path. As soon as the retracting movement of the cutter member from the brush pile is started, the cutter member is free to elevate and jostle about until The operator may then continue his forward movement through the brush until he has accumulated another pile of brush against the backing plate, the first pile and all of the successive piles being deposited to one side of the path being cleared.

The pivotal connection of the arms 2934 here Figures 4 and 5. The member 44 is adapted to rest directly across the cutter plate I8 on the backing plate l6 and is connected to each of the arms 2934 by means of spacer members 46 which extend outwardly from the member 44 into engagement with the rear sides of arms 2934. Due to the V-shape bevel construction of the cutter member, the arms 2934 are of uneven pitch and accordingly the spacer members 46 vary in dimension so as to properly connect the arms and reenforcing member 44. It will thus be seen that the pivotal connection at the upper end .of the arms cooperating with the brace or support afforded by the member 44 and the spacers 46 gives the lower ends of the arms and the cutter member substantial rigidity and positively forces the cutter member forward with the movement of the tractor. At the same time it will be understood that the cutter member may be swung upwardly about the pivotal connections at the upper ends of the arms in the manner above described.

In use the cutter member will usually rest upon the ground or penetrate through the top surface of the ground depending upon the character of the brush to be cleared. This adjustment of the cutter member may be readily effected by raising and lowering the bull-dozer by way of the hydraulic mechanism 2|. In some instances, for example in tree-dozing, it is frequently desirable to raise the cutter member to an elevation of two or three feet so as to strike the trunk of the tree well above the ground, so as to either cause an uprooting of the tree by tilting action or a severing of the tree at the cutter member. Relatively large trees may be removed in this fashion.

The simple pivotal construction here employed at the upper ends of arms 2934 permits a simple and ready attachment and detachment of the cutter member to the bull-dozer. Also where desired the cutter member may be swung upwardly and held in upward inoperative position and the bull-dozer used for ordinary excavating purposes.

.A modified form of the invention has been illustrated in Figures 7 to 9 of the drawings which may be used interchangeably with the cutter member of the preferred embodiment and which is particularly designed for use as a root cutter. The construction here illustrated includes a plurality of elongated cutter members 41, 48, 49, 5|, 52, 53, 54, 56, 51 which extend longitudinally rather than transversely of the line of movement of the tractor. These members are here in the form of teeth which extend forwardly and downwardly from the front face of the bull-dozer plate so as to engage the lower ends 58 of the teeth in the earth. In common with the preferred form of the invention, these cutter members are pivotally secured to the backing plate in a manner permitting a relatively free vertical movement of the ground engaging portion of the members whereby the same may free themselves from the brush upon retraction of the vehicle from a brush pile. As here shown, the cutter members 41-51 are grouped in sections or units of three cutter members per unit and are operatively connected tothe backing plate It by means of the ears 42, described in connection with the first embodiment. The sections include backing or supporting members 59, SI and 62 which extend horizontally across portions of the face of the plate l6 and which are provided with offset lugs 63, 64, 6B, 61, 68, 59, H, which engage between and alongside of the pairs of ears 42 located across the face of the plate and are pivotally secured to such ears by means of the pivot pins 43 above described. By reason of the sectional construction of this form of the cutter member, any one or two of the units may be employed individually or all three may be mounted as illustrated in the drawings. The cutter members "-51 are secured as by welding or the like at their rear upper ends to the backing members 59, 6| and 62 and extend forwardly and downwardly as aforementioned so as to engage their forward ends 58 in the earth. The members "-51 are supported and braced intermediate their ends :by direct engagement with the lower cutter member i8 located on the plate I6. Also preferably a reenforcing member 12 is used in each of the units for joining and bracing the cutter members at an intermediate portion of their length.

This modified form of the invention, as will be readily understood, possesses great strength, may be effectively used for cutting the roots of trees and brush and the like at and below the surface of the ground, and may additionally be used for raking and piling the brush in a manner similar to that explained in connection with the preferred embodiment. Where desired this modified form of the invention is also extremely effective for scarifyin street surfaces and the like.

I have found that in brush and tree clearance projects both the preferred and modified forms of the invention are desirable in their particular use and in accordance with the present construction these units may be readily interchanged with each other.

I claim:

1. A brush cutter comprising, a bull-dozer plate adapted for mounting on the front of a motor driven vehicle, an elongated substantially flat blade spaced forwardly of said plate and positioned across the line of movement thereof at approximately ground elevation and in substantially a horizontal plane, and supporting means connecting said blade and plate and permitting a relatively free raising and lowering of the blade.

2. A brush cutter comprising, a pusher plate adapted for mounting in substantially vertical position across the front of a motor driven vehicle, a substantially v-shape blade mounted forwardly of said plate with the apex of said blade foremost, and means supporting said blade from said plate at substantially ground elevation of the blade and including a pivotal connection permitting a relatively free raising and lowering of said blade.

3. A brush cutter comprising, a pusher plate.

' adapted for mounting in vertical position across the front of a motor driven vehicle, a substantially V-shaDe blade mounted forwardly of said plate with the apex of said blade foremost, and means supporting said blade from said plate with said blade in a substantially horizontal plane and at substantially ground elevation and in cluding a pivotal connection permitting. a relatively free raising and lowering of said blade, said means being of substantially open construction to permit the sifting of earth therethrough from brush engaged thereby.

4. A brush cutter comprising, a bull-dozer plate adapted for mounting at the front of a tractor or the like in substantially vertical position across the line of movement of the tractor, an elongated substantially fiat blade mounted forwardly of said plate and across the line of movement thereof with said blade positioned in substantially a horizontal plane, and means connecting said blade to the front of said plate and providing a pivotal joint adjacent said plate permitting raising and lowering of said blade about said joint, said means being of open construction permitting the sifting of earth therethrough.

5. A brush cutter comprising, a pusher plate adapted for mounting in substantially vertical position across the front of a motor driven ve-' hicle, a flat substantially V-shaped blade mounted forwardly of said plate with the apex of said blade foremost, and a plurality of arms secured to said blade and extending rearwardly and upwardly therefrom and pivoted at their upper ends to the face of said plate about a substantially common horizontal axis permitting the raising and lowering of said blade about said axis.

6. A brush cutter comprising, a pusher plate adapted for mounting in substantially vertical position across the front of a motor driven vehicle, a flat substantially V-shaped blade mounted forwardly of said plate with the apex ofsaid blade foremost, and a plurality of arms secured to said blade and extending rearwardly and upwardly therefrom and pivoted at their upper ends to the face of said plate about a substantially common horizontal axis permitting the raising and lowering of said blade about said axis, said arms being supported by said plate at a portion thereof below said axis in the lowermost position of said blade.

'7. A brush cutter comprising, a bull-dozer plate adapted for mounting across the front of a tractor or the like in a substantially vertical position of said plate, .a plurality of brush cutter elements positioned forwardly of said plate and adapted to engage and out brush and pass said out brush to said plate for piling and amassin and means supporting said cutter elements forwardly of said plate and having a pivotal connection along a horizontal axis transverse to the line of movement for permitting a relatively free r i g nd jostling of said elements upon backing of said plate and elements away from an amassed brush pile to free said elements from said brush, said means rigidly connecting said elements together for joint movement thereof relative to said plate and being of open construction permitting the sifting of earth out of the amassed brush.

WILFRED W. STARING. 

